Russell Vought was born in 1976 and raised in Wilmington, Delaware. He attended Pennsville Memorial High School in Pennsville, New Jersey.
For his higher education, Vought graduated from Wheaton College in 1998 with a degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. He then earned his J.D. from George Washington University Law School in 2004.
His career in politics began on Capitol Hill, where he worked for several years in various positions including:
- Republican Study Committee Executive Director
- Policy Director for the House Republican Conference
- Vice President of Heritage Action for America
- Executive Director of the Republican Study Committee
In 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Vought to serve as Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). After Mick Mulvaney became Acting White House Chief of Staff in January 2019, Vought became the Acting Director of OMB. He was formally nominated to the position of OMB Director in March 2020 and confirmed by the Senate in July 2020, serving until the end of the Trump administration in January 2021.
During his time at OMB, Vought was involved in implementing major policy initiatives including the federal government’s early response to the COVID-19 pandemic and various budget proposals.
After leaving government service, Vought founded the Center for American Restoration, a conservative think tank focused on cultural and policy issues. He serves as its president.
Before his government service, Vought worked for seven years with Heritage Action for America, serving as its Vice President of Grassroots Outreach and Policy Initiatives. Earlier in his career, he worked as the Executive Director of the Republican Study Committee and Policy Director for the House Republican Conference.
He is married to Mary Vought, who has worked as a Republican communications professional.
Throughout his career, Vought has been known for his conservative policy positions and his integration of his Christian faith with his public service. His religious views became a point of discussion during his confirmation hearings, particularly regarding statements he had made about his theological beliefs.
